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draw nigh。' My children； I sent my son and other messengers on a far
journey to where I knew the men dwelt； and they have returned after
many months bringing those men with them； bringing with them also
another of whom I knew nothingyes； her who is appointed； her of whom
the Spirit spoke。〃
Then he lifted his withered hand and held it towards Benita； saying：
〃I tell you that yonder she sits for whom the generations have
waited。〃
〃It is so；〃 answered the Makalanga。 〃It is the White Lady come again
to take her own。〃
〃Friends；〃 asked the Molimo； while they wondered at his strange
speech； 〃tell me； have you brought the guns？〃
〃Surely；〃 answered Mr。 Clifford； 〃they are there in the waggon； every
one of them； the best that can be made； and with them ten thousand
cartridges； bought at a great cost。 We have fulfilled our share of the
bargain； now will you fulfil yours； or shall we go away again with the
guns and leave you to meet the Matabele with your assegais？〃
〃Say you the agreement while we listen；〃 answered the Molimo。
〃Good；〃 said Mr。 Clifford。 〃It is this： That you shall find us food
and shelter while we are with you。 That you shall lead us into the
secret place at the head of the hill； where the Portuguese died； and
the gold is hidden。 That you shall allow us to search for that gold
when and where we will。 That if we discover the gold； or anything else
of value to us； you shall suffer us to take it away； and assist us
upon our journey； either by giving us boats and manning them to travel
down the Zambesi； or in whatever fashion may be most easy。 That you
shall permit none to hurt； molest； or annoy us during our sojourn
among you。 Is that our contract？〃
〃Not quite all of it；〃 said the Molimo。 〃There is this to add： first
that you shall teach us how to use the guns； secondly； that you shall
search for and find the treasure； if so it is appointed； without our
help； since in this matter it is not lawful for us to meddle； thirdly；
that if the Amandabele should chance to attack us while you are here；
you shall do your best to assist us against their power。〃
〃Do you； then； expect attack？〃 asked Meyer suspiciously。
〃White man； we always expect attack。 Is it a bargain？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Mr。 Clifford and Jacob Meyer in one voice； the latter
adding： 〃the guns and the cartridges are yours。 Lead us now to the
hidden place。 We have fulfilled our part； we trust to the honour of
you and all your people to fulfil yours。〃
〃White Maiden；〃 asked the Molimo； addressing Benita； 〃do you also say
that it is a bargain？〃
〃What my father says； I say。〃
〃Good；〃 said the Molimo。 〃Then； in the presence of my people； and in
the name of the Munwali； I； Mambo； who am his prophet； declare that it
is so agreed between us； and may the vengeance of the heavens fall
upon those who break our pact！ Let the oxen of the white men be
outspanned； their horses fed； their waggon unloaded； that we may count
the guns。 Let food be brought into the guest…house also； and after
they have eaten； I； who alone of all of you have ever entered it； will
lead them to the holy place； that there they may begin to search for
that which the white men desire from age to ageto find it if they
can； if not； to depart satisfied and at peace。〃
IX
THE OATH OF MADUNA
Mr。 Clifford and Meyer rose to return to the waggon in order to
superintend the unyoking of the oxen and to give directions as to
their herding； and the off…saddling of the horses。 Benita rose also；
wondering when the food that had been promised would be ready； for she
was hungry。 Meanwhile； the Molimo was greeting his son Tamas； patting
his hand affectionately and talking to him； when suddenly Benita； who
watched this domestic scene with interest； heard a commotion behind
her。 Turning to discover its cause； she perceived three great man clad
in full war panoply； shields on their left arms； spears in their right
hands； black ostrich plumes rising from the polished rings woven in
their hair； black moochas about their middles； and black oxtails tied
beneath their knees； who marched through the throng of Makalanga as
though they saw them not。
〃The Matabele！ The Matabele are on us！〃 cried a voice； while other
voices shouted； 〃Fly to your walls！〃 and yet others； 〃Kill them！ They
are few。〃
But the three men marched on unheeding till they stood before Mambo。
〃Who are you； and what do you seek？〃 the old man asked boldly； though
the fear that had taken hold of him at the sight of these strangers
was evident enough； for his whole body shook。
〃Surely you should know； chief of Bambatse；〃 answered their spokesman
with a laugh； 〃for you have seen the like of us before。 We are the
children of Lobengula； the Great Elephant； the King； the Black Bull；
the Father of the Amandabele； and we have a message for your ear；
little Old Man； which； finding that you leave your gate open； we have
walked in to deliver。〃
〃Speak your message then； envoys of Lobengula； in my ear and in those
of my people；〃 said the Molimo。
〃Your people！ Are these all your people？〃 the spokesman replied
contemptuously。 〃Why then； what need was there for the indunas of the
King to send so large an impi under a great general against you； when
a company of lads armed with sticks would have served the turn？ We
thought that these were but the sons of your house； the men of your
own family； whom you had called together to eat with the white
strangers。〃
〃Close the entrance in the wall；〃 cried the Molimo； stung to fury by
the insult； and a voice answered：
〃Father； it is already done。〃
But the Matabele； who should have been frightened； only laughed again；
and their spokesman said：
〃See； my brothers； he thinks to trap us who are but three。 Well； kill
on； Old Wizard； if you will； but know that if a hand is lifted； this
spear of mine goes through your heart； and that the children of
Lobengula die hard。 Know also that then the impi which waits not far
away will destroy you every one； man and woman； youth and maiden；
little ones who hold the hand and infants at the breast； none shall be
leftnone at all； to say； 'Here once lived the cowardly Makalanga of
Bambatse。' Nay； be not foolish； but talk softly with us； so that
perhaps we may spare your lives。〃
Then the three men placed themselves back to back； in such fashion
that they faced every way； and could not be smitten down from behind；
and waited。
〃I do not kill envoys；〃 said the Molimo； 〃but if they are foul…
mouthed； I throw them out of my walls。 Your message； men of the
Amandabele。〃
〃I hear you。 Hearken now to the word of Lobengula。〃
Then the envoy began to speak； using the pronoun I as though it were
the Matabele king himself who spoke to his vassal； the Makalanga
chief： 〃I sent to you last year； you slave； who dare to call yourself
Mambo of the Makalanga； demanding a tribute of cattle and